On Friday afternoon the Orange County Board of Supervisors met in closed session to discuss, among other things, the fate of County CEO Tom Mauk. After the arrest of former OC Public Works executive and Santa Ana City Councilman Carlos Bustamante on multiple felony charges of sexual assault, Mauk has come under fire for his handling of the matter. The meeting resulted in no action by the Board and further discussion was postponed to the July 24th Board meeting.
Specifically, Supervisors John Moorlach and Shawn Nelson see Mauk as being responsible, at least in part, for the failed investigations and cover up of the allegations against Bustamante. Supervisors are also now questioning the decision, authorized by Mauk, to pay Bustamante three months of severance pay in return for his agreement to not sue the county.
“The apparent failures in judgment in this case are staggering and massively disappointing,” wrote Board Chairman Moorlach in his email newsletter.
After calling the special closed session meeting, Moorlach told the Voice of OC the he would “prefer he [Mauk} just resign.”
Supervisor Nelson told the Voice of OC on Thursday:
“I know that Peter Hughes was jerked around,” Nelson said. “Peter Hughes was trying to get answers, and they were hidden from him on purpose.”
“And this wasn’t going to be turned over to the DA. That’s indisputable,” Nelson said, adding that top officials inside Public Works weren’t even disciplined until after Hughes audit report came to light.
So Tom Mauk will continue in his role as CEO for at least the next couple of weeks. While he has weathered confidence crisis’s before, none have struck this deep at the heart of his ability to manage the county. While he continues to hold the reins of power, Mauk is likely to be more of a Zombie CEO than an effective force in the Hall of Administration.
Don’t believe it. Mauk is probably running around the HOA right now, thumping his chest and whining about how unfair that meanie, Shawn Nelson is being. The nerve of that upstart Supervisor. Obviously, Nelson is just another slacker. He’ll show him. Where’s Nelson’s parking space?
Mauk is NOT “running around” anywhere doing anything. From what I hear, the miscreant can barely walk.
Hey, no props to the Orange Juice for breaking the story of the concealed report?
What’s a “prop”?
We the taxpayers of Orange County get to look forward to the biggest sexual harassment lawsuit in history. By protecting a predator they just asked to lose piles of our cash.
Everyone involved in covering this up should be fired and fired now. The longer they drag this out the more it’s going to cost.
Once again because of politics they think they don’t have to follow the rules that the regular people do.
Mike — thanks for pointing our that the only Republican on the Santa Ana city council and the five Republicans on the county BoS didn’t protect those women…..
Predators like this transcend politics. This is one subject that even the most partisan will not tolerate.
You can’t fire the Board of Supervisors. You have to recall them.
Mauk should resign as should Rob Richardson. Anyone who played a role in this cover-up should be fired or resign immediately. The taxpayers suffer again due to the actions of those who believe they are untouchable.